JAY, N.Y. (WCAX) – A developer from Texas is looking to infuse new life into an old Adirondack mansion that has sat vacant for years.
Melinda Levens, president of Keyway Sustainable Preservation, said she knew she wanted to buy the historical Graves mansion about five years ago after seeing a video of its unique tiles, which can also be found in the White House.
“You see all of the architecture, the carvings, the stained glass. I mean, there is nothing that compares,” Levens said.
The mansion, which sits adjacent to the Au Sable Forks Elementary School, was built around 1880 by its namesake, Henry Graves. He worked for the J.J. Rogers Paper Mill and was a leading industrialist.
Though the three-story home is ornate with its impressive woodwork, flooring, and lighting fixtures, its historical status comes from President Grover Cleveland’s 1886 visit and balcony speech.
“People of the town walked up, and he addressed the town with the future plans of industry and all of his future plans for the country. It was very interesting, and that’s why we got our historical designation,” Levens said.
She says she has big plans for the mansion, including a museum on the first floor, an event space, and even a small amount of housing for health care workers. “They will stay here and do their three to six-month stay,” Levens said.
She said they have already addressed initial weather damage in the building and are looking for state grants to finish the project, which is estimated to cost around $3 million and take three years to complete.
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